Tastes

Sampled during a tour of the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street. Not available in the US currently. It's everything I liked about the standard Black Barrel but elevated to another level. Rich, sweet and creamy - it's all dessert on the nose. Surprisingly easy to sip given the 120 proof rating. Some spice in the finish.

Lot # 08: 113.7 proof (56.86%) Bought as a gift to myself for my 30th. Poured neat. Very subtle nose, almost disappears with the more you try to smell. Velvety and floral, with notes of vanilla, white wine and antique furniture. Slightly oily mouth feel with a burst of tart cherry pie off the cuff. That turns to a more medicinal cherry cough syrup through the mid palate before fading to a sweet cornbread. Subtle notes of mint, honey and toasted oak fill in the gaps from there. Finish lingers for a while with notes of black tea, baking spice, cherry wood, and a little more cough medicine. Definitely enjoyed this whiskey more after letting it open up for a few weeks than when it was first cracked. The flavors were dense but the nose was underwhelming. I'd recommend trying to find it at a bar before springing for an entire bottle. Overall I felt that it fell short of my expectations being such an expensive bottle.

Batch 89: Bottled August 18, 2021 Barrel Strength: 115.64 proof (57.82%) Poured neat. Very desert-like on the nose that makes me think of crème brûlée. Leads with a thick maple syrup with backing notes of vanilla, and toasted sugar. Oily mouth feel, sweet at first with notes of cherry, cream soda and candy corn. The proof starts to ramp up in the mid palate bringing notes of cinnamon and toasted oak with it. Finish is moderate with warm notes of vanilla, leather and baking spice. Believe the hype on this one, fantastic whiskey.

Poured neat. Flintstone vitamins, raspberry jam and bana on the nose with a bit of underlying ethanol. Flavor has notes of toasted brown sugar, chocolate covered cherries, and marshmallow that got dropped in the campfire. Much better than the standard No7, but not quite up to the level of the JD single barrels that I've tried. Definitely worth the try!

Poured neat. Nose is light with hints of cereal and off-brand marshmallows. After the first sip you'll notice a bit more sweetness. Taste has slightly more punch. The cereal note carries over and introduces concentrated vanilla, dried banana and pecan flavors. Finish is moderate with notes of smoke and leather.

Bar pour. (Pronounced T-X, not Texas. My apologies to our bartender.) Nose is sweet and light. Vanilla cream with chocolate covered cherries and a hint of almond. A little on the youthful side. Flavor sticks with the almond flavors and brings in a little cookie dough ice cream on top. Not overly complex and a short finish. Not too shabby. It's a decent social sipper and worth trying, but it's probably not going to break into my normal rotation.

Poured neat. Sweat and creamy nose, like cake batter, along with a dusty grain. Sweet bread pudding on the front of the tongue. Mid palate brings out smokey floral notes and finishes like a sweet herbal tea Very happy with this pour. Similar to the standard BT but with a touch more sweetness.

Poured neat. Almonds, vanilla and peach on the nose. Flavor is a spikey mix of cinnamon-candied peanuts, black pepper, a little sharp mid-palate, and a soft and smokey tea finish. Solid budget pour.

Poured neat. Light on the nose with notes of green apple and dusty corn. I also get a slight metallic note as well that I usually pick up on frim Irish whiskey, strangely enough. The sweet green apple and metallic notes carry over to the taste. Youthful woody flavors come through in the mid-palate, with the finish fading to a mix of unsweetened tea and mild tobacco.

Poured neat. Nose is a delicate and earthy blend of honey, prairie grass, and pine wood. Flavor carries on a lot of those soft and sweet flavors. I get more honey, lightly toasted sugar, a hint of red apple and the obvious peat you would expect. Nearly no heat with a standard peppered wood and leather finish. Not a bad pour, but certainly not a game changer either. Great pickup for a newbie just dipping their toe into scotch. Metaphorically of course.